community_kv

We facilitate diverse communities

that help entrepreneurs

learn and drive social change.

Community of entrepreneurs
driving industrial innovation In Japan

Thinka 6th Batch Applications are Closed

Application Closed

Concept

What we do.

Thinka is a social community for founders, managed by FIRSTLIGHT Capital.It is a place
where next-generation entrepreneurs can gather, learn,
and express themselves with the shared goal of advancing Japan's industrialization.
Real experience over theory.
Failure over success. Sharing over showing-off.
At Thinka, we bring together the top entrepreneurs, business people,
and specialists to share their own experiences, and discuss the challenges
that our founders face, all to foster a culture of learning from mistakes
and a readiness to take on new challenges.

Benefit

Foundation

Learn The Ropes.

benefit3

Build Essential Business Development Skills

Members will participate in five Monthly Thinka sessions and working groups to dive deep into PMF, product development, growth strategy, financing, and other essential topics in launching a business, together with highly accomplished guests who offer valuable insights.

1on1

Get The Support You Need.

benefit2

1-on-1 Mentoring with FIRSTLIGHT Capitalist

A designated mentor will assist your groundwork for early-phase business development, covering critical issues such as business planning, financing, and engagement with different stakeholders.

Network

Connecting With People

benefit1

Relation-building support for Thinka members

Thinka members are provided with opportunities to expand their network through connecting with peer members, businesses supported by FIRSTLIGHT Capital, and participants of earlier Thinka batches.

Monthly Thinka

Kick-off

July 2024

Workshop

Self-awareness workshop + networking event

Session 1

August 2024

Starting Up & PMF

Dos and Don'ts up to initial product building

Session 2

September 2024

Business Model

Ensuring expandability to become a leading player

Session 3

October 2024

Financing

What to think and do in startup financing

Session 4

November 2024

Hiring & Team-Building

What startups must know and consider in their HR strategy

Session 5

December 2024

Growth Strategy

Drawing a sustainable growth strategy from the early phase + graduation ceremony"

Guest Speakers

speaker1

Taku Toguchi

AI inside Inc. CEO

#drive exponential startup growth

speaker2

Junichiro Tobe

NOVASELL, Inc. CTO

#build an engineering team for higher quality & speed of development 方

speaker3

Shinpei Noguchi

ITANDI Inc. CEO

#growth strategy to guide vertical SaaS to success

speaker4

Ryota Hayashi

Finatext Holdings Ltd. CEO

#design a sustainable growth strategy from the early phase

speaker5

Hiroto Morooka

Kaminashi, Inc. CEO

#identify issues and plan/design fundamental value to build an essential product

speaker6

Shota Kawaminami

HENNGE K.K. Executive officer

#pricing principles of SaaS business

speaker7

Kenta Koyama

Smartround Inc. CTO

#early-phase product team management

speaker8

Go Akazawa

AlphaDrive CTO/NewsPicks for Business Director

#early-phase product team management

*The company name and position of Mr. Noguchi (ITANDI Inc.) and Mr. Akazawa (AlphaDrive) are at the time of the event.

Application

Join us.

Theme
Innovation in legacy industries
- Automation/replacement/streamlining of on-site analog workflows
- Industrial IoT/AI/Robotics
- New ways of working
- Structural transformation of established industries
Phase
Before Pre-series A (may be before or after seed funding)
Requirement
Ability to attend monthly program sessions held in Tokyo in person
Application/selection process
- Deadline: Applications are Closed
- Selection: Document screening followed by online interview
(Screening results will be notified to applicants within one week from submission of the application form.)

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